The Belfast Policing and Community Safety Partnership’s ‘Drug Dealers Don’t Care, Do You?’ media campaign was launched in Belfast on 9 February but also ran in other PCSP areas.

The results from the campaign between February 9 and April 9 revealed that police seized £1.46million drugs; £44,000 cash; carried out 1,823 searches; made 704 seizures and arrested 357 individuals.

Assistant Chief Constable for Crime Operations, Will Kerr, said: “Along with our partners, we’ve invested a considerable amount of time and effort into this campaign and it has delivered worthwhile outcomes. The principal drug seized was herbal cannabis worth £1.17 million.

"Although this operation has concluded, drugs will remain a policing priority.

"We will continue to disrupt and arrest those involved in the sale and supply of drugs, bring individuals before the courts and work with communities and partner agencies to reduce the threat of harmful and illegal activity.

“We would continue to ask communities to provide us with information about illegal drugs. If you tell us, we will act on it.”

Cannabis

A spokesperson for Belfast PCSP said: “We are delighted to hear how successful the PSNI enforcement has been, and welcome these significant results.

"It’s encouraging that the ‘Drug Dealers Don’t Care’ campaign would appear to be having some impact in helping to tackle the scourge of drugs on our streets and in our communities."

Crimestoppers Volunteer Board chairman, Peter Stafford, said: “Information has increased by 23 per cent on last year’s campaign, which is an indication that people do care about fighting crime in their community.

"We understand that picking up the phone to give information can be an incredibly difficult thing to do, and this is why we’d encourage you to use our anonymous service to report a drug dealer in your area, safe in the knowledge they will never know you spoke to us.”

Justice Minister David Ford said: “Those who deal in drugs are a scourge on our society. I commend the PSNI for their continuing work to remove drugs from our streets and bring perpetrators to justice.

“Whilst the criminal justice system will continue to take action against those who supply or deal in drugs and bring them before the courts, the justice agencies need support and information from all parts of the community.

"I would therefore encourage members of the public to call the police on 101 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with the confidence that one call could save many lives. Your call can and will make a difference.”